Liverpool quash reports of new Israel link

Reports that Liverpool are set to sign a lucrative sponsorship deal with Israel are wide of the mark.

The ECHO understands that the Reds have been left baffled by speculation in the Middle East that the state’s logo will be appearing on the players’ shirts and on billboards around Anfield.

Liverpool’s director of international business development Jonathan Kane was pictured with Israel’s tourism minister Yariv Levin at the World Travel Market fair in London.

But the ECHO understands that introductions were held with dozens of potential partners from across the globe and that it went no further than that.

Israeli website ynetnews.com claimed: “A club repre­sen­tative noted that the initiative and desire to work with Israel stems from the club’s owners, two of whom are Jewish.

“According to the repre­sen­tative, the sponsorship with significantly generate further tourism to Israel of the club can greatly assist tourism in Israel.

“In addition to the Israeli logo appearing on the sports kit and in the home stadium.... it will also feature on the club’s active social media pages. Players will also be brought to visit the country.”